Bloodhounds are one of the biggest breeds in the hound family. They are very social dogs initially bred in Europe to hunt deer and boar. They are renowned for their incredible sense of smell, which can detect even the most subtle scents. Their enormous size might leave you wondering how much a bloodhound should weigh.
Bloodhounds usually weigh from 80 to 130 pounds. Males are usually larger and heavier and should weigh between 90 and 130 pounds. Females, on the other hand, tend to weigh less and should average weight around 80 pounds. A bloodhound puppy, presumably of 8 weeks, should weigh about 20 pounds.
Bloodhounds are generally large-sized dogs that can reach 23- 27 inches in height. Regardless of their enormous size, bloodhounds make good family dogs. They are social dogs and interact well with other animals and kids. In this article, we look at the weight of the bloodhounds, taking a closer look at their weight at different ages.
How Much Should An Adult Bloodhound Weigh?
Bloodhounds usually cease growing between the ages of 18 and 24 months. This dog breed is well known for its fast growth. However, the majority of their development takes place when the bloodhounds are between four and eight months of age.
A healthy, fully-grown bloodhound should weigh between 80 to 130 pounds.
This variation in weight may be due to genetics and diet. These factors influence a bloodhound’s size, which determines a bloodhound’s weight. As you might expect, dogs often grow to be the same size as their parents.
As with all dogs, bloodhounds need to take a well-balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight. The quantity of food also matters. Administration of food should also be proportionate to their age and size.
To fully understand the weight of bloodhounds, we look at the weight of the male and the female bloodhounds.
How Much Should A Male Bloodhound Weigh?
A fully-grown male bloodhound should weigh between 90 and 130 pounds. Male bloodhounds are slightly bigger than female bloodhounds. They can grow to a height ranging from 25 inches to 27 inches. Some males, on the other hand, can grow to be 32 inches in height.
How Much Should A Female Bloodhound Weigh?
The average weight of an adult female bloodhound should range from 80 pounds to 100 pounds. Female bloodhounds tend to be a little bit smaller and lighter than male bloodhounds. A female bloodhound may grow to an average height of between 23 and 25 inches.
These are the weights of healthy, fully-grown bloodhounds. At different ages, bloodhounds have different sizes and weights. Let’s look at the weights of the bloodhounds during different stages of development.
How Much Should A Bloodhound Weigh At Eight Weeks?
At eight weeks old, a bloodhound puppy should weigh about 20 pounds.
Solid food can start being introduced to a bloodhound puppy at the age of eight weeks.
At this age, they are mature enough and are ready to leave their mother and the rest of the litter. It is recommended to feed your bloodhound puppy four meals a day at this age. This is also when you will most likely be able to pick a bloodhound and adopt it.
In addition, a bloodhound goes through its socialization phase at this age. Introducing your dog and helping it interact with people and other dogs too may benefit. You also can start obedience training with simple commands.
How Much Should A Bloodhound Weigh At Six Months?
At six months, a bloodhound should weigh between 50 and 70 pounds. Feeding of the bloodhound at this age is at two meals a day.
At six months, the adolescence phase of a bloodhound kicks in. The bloodhounds have an increased energy level and you may notice it becoming more stubborn. Interactions with other dogs may also change as older dogs may begin to view a six-month-old bloodhound as a fully grown dog.
How Much Should A Bloodhound Weigh At 12 Months?
At 12 months, a bloodhound should weigh between 75 and 95 pounds. This is really where the weight of the male bloodhounds begin to differ from that of a female bloodhound.
What Factors May Influence The Weight Of A Bloodhound?
A bloodhound’s weight does not entirely come from its growth only, but several reasons also influence it. Some factors that may affect the weight of your bloodhound may include:
- Level of activity
A healthy bloodhound requires frequent exercise and walks. It might not demand as much exercise as other hounds, but it will certainly appreciate the opportunity to use its nose to explore its surroundings during a stroll. Just like humans, allowing your bloodhound to lay around all day will make it gain more weight.
- Diet
How you feed your dog and the food it eats play a huge role in your dog’s health and weight. Unfortunately, bloodhounds are prone to becoming overweight, and overfeeding your bloodhound may lead to obesity. The quality of food you give your bloodhound also influences its weight. Bloodhounds need to take premium and balanced meals for good development and weight check.
The amount of food you give the bloodhounds should be proportional to their size and age.
- The lineage of your bloodhound
This influences the size of your bloodhound. A bloodhound from a lineage of big-sized bloodhounds will most likely become big too, and obviously, a large bloodhound will weigh more than an average-sized bloodhound.
- Age of your bloodhound
Over time your bloodhound uses and needs less energy as it ages. Aging reduces its activity level. Having fewer activities or exercises with constant food (especially unhealthy food) may end up making your bloodhound gain weight.
How Should You Keep Your Bloodhound Weight Under Control?
Knowing how much your bloodhound should weigh allows us to fully understand our dogs and how best to take care of them. They are giant dog breeds, and due to their size, you may not know what to expect or required of you regarding their weight.
In addition to this, you should ensure your bloodhound maintains a healthy weight. Keeping a record of the growth process may be helpful. On average, a bloodhound may take up to a year or more to reach its adult weight.
Nutrition is also essential in ensuring that your bloodhound growth is good and their weight is in check at all different ages. With the bloodhound’s massive size comes a demand for a healthy food program to aid with growth. Leaving your bloodhound to eat a poor diet will probably cause it to become overweight.
As a source of energy, bloodhounds demand a lot of carbohydrates. Despite that, you should never overfeed your bloodhound too much of the carbs since they are kept as fat in the body if not needed. Carbohydrates are, however, much cheaper dog food when compared to other nutrients like protein. This makes them often used as major dog food by many owners.
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Eating less may be a solution to reduce weight gain, but it can lead to malnourishment in your dog. You should ensure that the right amount of food is administered with the right amount of nutrients required for proper growth. The most important aspect is to eat a well-balanced meal.
Regular exercises and play with your bloodhound will ensure that its weight is maintained, and taking care of your bloodhound’s health also ensures excellent growth with having their weight at the required levels at different ages.
To sum up, bloodhounds make good family pets but only to those that can meet their needs. It is a relatively high-maintenance dog. They can be easygoing in a home setting. Although bloodhounds may be gentle dogs, they can be super active, and their high energy levels require lots of exercise.
